Metabolic Dysregulation and Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Retinopathy: Glycogen Metabolism, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Antioxidant Defences
TL;DR
It is proposed that dysregulated glycogen metabolism and impaired antioxidant capacity form an integrated metabolic–redox network that helps explain cell-specific vulnerability and metabolic memory in DR and may support earlier, disease-modifying strategies beyond treatment of advanced vascular complications.
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of preventable visual impairment and develops through intertwined metabolic, oxidative, inflammatory, and neurovascular disturbances. This review examines how chronic hyperglycaemia disrupts retinal glucose handling and redox homeostasis, with particular emphasis on glycogen metabolism as an underappreciated contributor to disease progression. Pathological glycogen accumulation in retinal amacrine cells and the retinal pigment epithelium may arise through altered glycogen synthase localisation and glucose-6-phosphate-dependent activation, potentially disturbing intracellular trafficking and cellular energy balance. These metabolic changes converge with mitochondrial electron transport chain dysfunction, NADPH oxidase activation, polyol pathway flux, and light-driven lipid peroxidation to increase reactive oxygen species generation. At the same time, transient suppression of Nrf2-dependent antioxidant defences, TXNIP-NLRP3 inflammasome signalling, ferroptotic injury, and VEGF-associated oxidative feedback promote blood–retinal barrier breakdown and persistent neuroinflammation. We propose that dysregulated glycogen metabolism and impaired antioxidant capacity form an integrated metabolic–redox network that helps explain cell-specific vulnerability and metabolic memory in DR. Targeting multiple nodes within this network may support earlier, disease-modifying strategies beyond treatment of advanced vascular complications.